Atomizers



1966 F. J. SCHNELLER ATOMIZERS Filed Aug. 51, 1964 FIG. I

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. FRANK J SGHNELLER FIG. 7

MW ATTO R N EYS United States Patent 3,286,934 ATOMIZERS Frank J. Schnelier, 627 Whittier, Wichita, Kans. Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 393,279 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-327) This invention relates to containing means, more particularly to new atomizer container structure. Still more particularly the invention relates to a new nozzle and closure structure that in use greatly facilitates and simplifies the operation and use of atomizers.

Atomizers are known and generally used to entrain either a liquid or powder in a stream of Atornizers generally consist of a flexible plastic receptacle containing a liquid or powder. The air pressure necessary for delivcry and atomization of the liquid or powder is obtained by squeezing the flexible wall of the receptacle .by hand.

Such atomizers are normally provided with a tube having one end communicating with the liquid or powder content in the receptacle and :the other end portion of the tube positioned adjacent an atomizing orifice within the atomizer so that when the receptacle is squeezed air is forced from the receptacle through a discharge orifice. In so doing the in passing across the top of the tube creates a vacuum which draws the liquid or powder from the receptacle and entrains it in the air stream.

The known atomizer-s and container means in general have .a number of shortcomings. Before each use the cap or enclosure must be completely removed in order to open the orifice. This is a troublesome and time consuming task which presents a possibility of dropping or losing the cap. Loss of the cap of an atomizer is undersirable because it would allow the liquid enclosed in the container to escape, and also provide an opening in which leakage could occur if the container or enclosure were not maintained in an upright position. However, atomizers are known to the prior art that employ a rotatable cap or enclosure. This type of known cap ordinarily has two or more apertures that can be selectively aligned by a precise setting of the carp relative to an aperture. This type of atomizer normally cannot be positively sealed, and requires a precise setting which is d-ifiicult, time consuming, and tedious. Further this type of known cap for an atomizer is composed of intricate elements that are different to mold, or otherwise produce, and assemble. For this reason the cost of this type of atomizer is prohibitive and has not been widely used.

I have invented a new containing means. The containing means of my invention has a receptacle having an orifice, and a cap for said receptacle having an aperture, and an abutting portion adapted to cover said orifice. Means are provided on the receptacle and cap for moving the receptacle toward and away from the receptacle. 'Ilre atomizer is adapted in use to be sealed when the abutting portion of the cap is moved to close covering relationship with the orifice, and open for operation when the cap while in engagement with the receptacle is moved relative to the receptacle to space the abutting surface and the orifice.

The new containing means of my invention solves all of the afiorementioned problems associated which containing means, particularly atomizers, known 'to the prior art. My container means can be opened simpl easily and quickly by merely moving the cap away from the discharge orifice or aperture. is normally done by partially unscrewing the cap to thereby longitudinally space the abutting portion of the cap firom the discharge orifice. This operation can be accomplished very easily and conveniently with one hand. There is no need for precisely setting the cap relative to the discharge orifice ice as is the case with many container means known to the prior The ease of opening my atomizer thereby eliminates the possibility of dropping or losing the cap since it need not be removed firom the enclosure. A positive and leak-proof seal can be produced and maintained with my atomizer since the cap can be screwed down tightly over the discharge orifice or aperture. The atomizer of my invention can also be produced very inexpensively since the components are of simple construction, and are very easy to assemble. This low cost of production will ultimately lead to expanded use of atomizer ltype containers. 1

An object of my invention is to provide an improved container means.

Another object of my invention is to provide an atomizer adapted to entrain liquid or pow der in a stream of air that is simple to operate.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new atomizer construction wherein the atomizer can be opened for use with one hand.

Another object of my invention is to provide a nozzle and cap construction that will provide a positive and leakproolf seal for the outlet of an enclosure.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an atomizer that is simple and dependable in operation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a new atomizer structure that can be inexpensively produced.

Another object of my invention is to provide an atomizer that is formed of simple and inexpensive components that can be very easily assembled.

Other objects and advantages of the atomizer of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the new container means of my invention, and it is to be understood that such drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a preferred specific embodiment of. the new atomizer of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the atomizer of my invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view in broken section in enlarged scale of the atomizer of my invention illustrating same in closed position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view in broken section in enlarged scale showing the atomizer of my invention in opened position.

FIG. 5 is a top view in enlarged scale of another preferred specific embodiment of the cap of an atomizer of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of still another preferred embodiment of a cap of an atomizer of my invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view in enlarged scale illustrating still another preferred embodiment of a cap of the atomizer of my invention.

The following is a discussion and description of the new atomizer of my invention made with reference to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure.

The discussion and description is of preferred specific embodiment of the new atomizer structure of my invention and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings. There is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 a preferred specific atomizer embodiment 10 of my new container means. Atomizer 10 has a flexible walled receptacle 12 having a neck 14. The receptacle 12 can be of any suitable type of material and is most preferably made of plastic, for example polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. If desired, however, the

receptacle can be made of rigid material and other means of providing internal pressure provided. For example, internal pressure can be produced within the enclosure 12 by initially placing the contents under pressure, or by providing a suitable pump on the container. are provided on neck 14. A frusto-conical shaped nozzle 18 is connected to neck 14 and has a central longitudinally extending aperture or orifice 20. The end of nozzle 18 is preferably provided with a fiat annular surface portion 22 surrounding the aperture 20. Enclosed in the enclosure 12 is a plunger tube 24 having a lower end disposed adjacent the lower portion of enclosure 12, and the upper end portion communicating with the aperture 29 in the nozzle 18. A plurality of cut-outs 26, as shown in FIG. 3, are formed at spaced intervals around aperture or orifice 22 in the base of neck 14.

A tapered cap 30 is provided for the receptacle 12. The tapered cap 30 has a longitudinal axis, preferably coinciding with the axis of aperture in nozzle 18. Interior threads 32 are provided on cap forrengagement with threads 16 on neck 14. The cap can be made of any suitable type of material preferably plastic or hard rubber. The cap 30 is provided with a side wall 33 and an end wall 34 having a flat transverse interior surface 36for selective sealing engagement with the flat annular surface portion 22 of nozzle 18. A first set of evenly spaced apertures 40 are provided in the side wall 33 of cap 30 and arranged in an annulus and positioned to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cap. A second set of evenly spaced apertures 42 are positioned in the end wall 34 of the cap and arranged in an annulus to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cap. The apertures are best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The plurality of apertures 42 do not coincide with the discharge orifice or aperture 20 in nozzle 18 at any position of the cap 30. The abutment surface 360i cap 30 can be either moved into covering and sealing engagement with aperture 20, or spaced longitudinally frorn'same. The atomizer in use is adapted to be sealed when the cap 30'is screwed down so that the flat annular surface 22 on the nozzle is in abutting sealing engagement with the central portion of surface 36 of said cap, and open for use when the cap is unscrewed slightly to spacethe annular surface 22 of the nozzle and the flat surface 36 of the cap. When the discharge orifice or aperture 20 is uncovered and pressure applied to the deformable receptacle containing a liquid or powder to be atomized, the air contained therein is compressed and rushes out through cut-out portions 26 surrounding the plunger to 24. The air rushing through cut-outs 26' and out of discharge aperture 20 draws liquid or powder upwardly through plunger tube 24 to the top of the tube where it is thoroughly mixed and entrained with the air issuing through nozzle 26. The atomized mixture of liquid, or powder, and air then issues forth through apertures 40 and 42. The degree of atomization is effected by the size of the orifice 20, the cut-out portions 26, and the spacing of the surfaces 36 and 22. It is possible to adjust the atomization to a certain extent by the amount of spacing between surfaces 36 and 22. The precise shape and size of the apertures 42, cut-out portions 26, the diameter of plunger tube 24, etc., are dictated by the type and viscosity of the liquid contained in the enclosure 12 or the type of powder being entrained.

In FIG. 6 is illustrated another specific atomizer embodiment 60 of the container means of my invention. In this atomizer 60 of my invention there is provided a single longitudinally. extending aperture 62 in the end wall 34 of cap 30. The aperture 62 is radially spaced from the orifice 20 in nozzle 18.

In FIG. 7 is illustrated still another specific atomizer embodiment 70 of the container means of my invention.

In this specific embodiment, as is also the case in embodi-' ment 60, the enclosure and nozzle structure are basically the same as described in connection with FIGS. 1-5. However the cap 30 is provided with a set of evenly spaced Threads 16' apertures 72 in the side wall 33 or" the cap arranged in an annulus and positioned to diverge relative the longitudinal axis of the cap. The manner of operation of atomizer embodiments of 66 and '70 of my invention is basically the same as the operation of my specific embodiment 10.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, various;

. nozzle connected to said neck having a centrally disposed longitudinally extendingaperture and a fiat annular sur-. face portion surrounding same, and a plunger tube within said receptacle in communication with said centrally dis posed aperture, a tapered cap for said receptacle having a central longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of aperture in said nozzle, interior threads forengagement with said threads on said neck, a side wall, and an end wall.

having a flat transverse interior surface on the end of said cap for selective engagement with said flat annular surface portion of said nozzle, a first set of evenly. spaced apertures in said side wall of said cap arranged in an annulus and positioned to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cap, a second set of evenly spaced apertures in the end wall of said cap arranged in an annulus and positioned to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cap, said-atomizer in use'adapted'to be sealed when said cap is screwed down so that the flat annular surface on said nozzle is in engagement with the central portion of said flat surface on said cap, and opened for use when said cap is unscrewed slightly to space the annular surface of said nozzle and the flat surface on the cap.

2. An atomizer comprising a flexible walled receptacle having a neck, threads on said neck, a pointed nozzle connected to said neck having a central longitudinally extending aperture and a transverse end surface surrounding same, a tapered cap for said receptacle having interior threads for engagement with said threads on said neck, a side wall and an end wall having a flat transverse interior surface on the end of said cap for selective engagement with said end surface of said nozzle, and aperture means including at least one aperture in said tapered cap in spaced relation to the portion of the fiat transverse interior surface on the end of the cap that engages the end surface on said nozzle, said atomizer in use adapted to be sealed when said cap is screwed down so the end surface of said nozzle is in engagement with said flat interior surface of said cap, and opened for use when said cap is unscrewed slightly to spaced end surface of said nozzle and the fiat surface of said cap,

3. An atomizer comprising a flexible walledreceptacle.

having a neck, threads on said neck, a tapered nozzle connected to said neck having a central longitudinally extending orifice and a surface portion surrounding same, a cap for said receptacle having a central longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of said orifice, interior threads for engagement of said threads on said neck, and a surface portion in the end thereof for selective engagementwith said surface portion surrounding said orifice of said nozzle, a plurality of apertures in said cap radially spaced from the central longitudinal axis of said cap, said atomizer in use adapted to be sealed when said cap is screwed down so that the surface on said nozzle surrounding said orifice is in engagement with said surface portion on said cap, and open when said cap is unscrewed slightly thus spacing said surface portion surrounding said orifice and said surfac portion of said cap. 7

4. An atomizer comprising a flexible walled receptacle having engagement means in an inner portion and in one end portion a nozzle smaller in the outlet end portion than in an inner portion and having a longitudinally extending orifice in a central portion thereof and a surface portion surrounding the outlet of said orifice, a cap for said recep tacle having a longitudinal axis, engagement means for positionable engagement with said engagement means on said receptacle, and a surface portion in the end thereof for selective engagement with said surface portion sur- 5 rounding the outlet of said orifice, and aperture means including at least one aperture in said cap in spaced relation to the portion of the surface of said cap that engages the surface on said nozzle surrounding said orifice, said atomizer in use adapted to be sealed when said engagement means on said cap is in engagement with said engagement means on said receptacle and said surface in said cap is in engagement with said surface around said orifice, and open when the engagement means on said cap and receptacle are positioned to separate said surface on cap and said surface around said orifice.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 318,930 5/1885 Sutton 239-366 719,587 2/1903 Hasbrouck 239-341 3,140,052 7/ 1964 McCuiston 239-327 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,569 3/ 1956 Australia.

57,888 4/ 1953 France. 542,993 5/1956 Italy.

Said 15 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner. 

4. AN ATOMIZER COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE WALLED RECEPTACLE HAVING ENGAGEMENT MEANS IN AN INNER PORTION AND IN ONE END PORTION A NOZZLE SMALLER IN THE OUTLET END PORTION THAN IN AN INNER PORTION AND HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ORIFICE IN A CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF AND A SURFACE PORTION SURROUNDING THE OUTLET OF SAID ORIFICE, A CAP FOR SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, ENGAGEMENT MEANS FOR POSITIONABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS ON SAID RECEPTACLE, AND A SURFACE PORTION IN THE END THEREOF FOR SELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SURFACE PORTION SURROUNDING THE OUTLET OF SAID ORIFICE AND APERTURE MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE IN SAID CAP IN SPACED RELATION TO THE PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID CAP THAT ENGAGES THE SURFACE ON SAID NOZZLE SURROUNDING SAID ORIFICE, SAID ATOMIZER IN USE ADAPTED TO BE SEALEDD WHEN SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS ON SAID CAP IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS ON SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID SURFACE IN SAID CAP IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACE AROUND SAID ORIFICE, AND OPEN WHEN THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS ON SAID CAP AND RECEPTACLE ARE POSITIONED TO SEPARATE SAID SURFACE ON SAID CAP AND SAID SURFACE AROUND SAID ORIFICE. 